Has A-Rod earned his pinstripes?

[Silver Blaze]

Barring any unforeseen trade etc somewhere down the line, A-Rod will spend the next decade in pinstripes. He has often been called the best player in the game. To me, as an outsider, I believe playing for the Yankees used to be a great privilege, and only the best of the best could serve out such a lengthy duration in the uniform.

Do you think A-Rod has earned his pinstripes, and the right to be regarded as a Yankee legend? Based again on my outsider's perspective of his performance and behavior, particularly in playoffs and including the infamous slap, I would say no. At least not yet.

[duckydps]

Barring any unforeseen trade etc somewhere down the line, A-Rod will spend the next decade in pinstripes. He has often been called the best player in the game. To me, as an outsider, I believe playing for the Yankees used to be a great privilege, and only the best of the best could serve out such a lengthy duration in the uniform.

Do you think A-Rod has earned his pinstripes, and the right to be regarded as a Yankee legend? Based again on my outsider's perspective of his performance and behavior, particularly in playoffs and including the infamous slap, I would say no. At least not yet.

If there were such a thing as Regular Season Pinstripes and then Postseason pinstripes, I would say he has the regular season ones, but since there is no such thing, I would say he hasn't earned them yet...

[Edgartohof]

Well, let's look at the Yankee's the last 4 years, since that's the time he has been with the team.

How do you think he compares to the other players he has played with in that time span?

He actually has played more games as a Yankee than any of the others in that 4 year span - did you know that? In fact, he has only missed 19 games over the last 4 years. So he is a workhorse who doesn't take time off. He goes out there day in day out. So 1 point for A-Rod.

And no one can say he hasn't been productive these 4 years. He quite possibly had the best season ever by a 3Bman last year (I have heard several members at this site say so). He has had more Runs, RBI, HR, SB, and BB's than any other Yankee player these 4 years. And he has had the highest OBP and Slg. on the team as well (not to mention an 18 point lead in OPS+ over the next player in that time).

I mean look at how he compares to the next person on the list in some categories.

Runs:
1) A-Rod - 492
2.) Jeter - 453
Edge: 39!

RBI:
1.) A-Rod - 513
2.) Matsui - 356
Edge: 156!!!!!

OPS+:
1.) A-Rod - 154
2.) Sheffield - 136
3.) Giambi - 134
4.) Matsui - 130
Edge: 18, 20 and 24 respectively!!!!!!

And not to mention that he has won 2 MVP's in this span - the first Yankee since Maris ('60 and '61) and Mantle ('56, '56, and '62) to win multiple MVP's) - that's a 40+ year spread!

Now I'm not a Yankee fan, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I would assume that Mattingly earned his pinstripes correct?

But wait!!! He didn't win a WS either did he? In fact, he only made it to the Post Season ONCE in his career didn't he!!!

So if Donnie doesn't get held accountable for that, then neither should A-Rod.

So I say yes he has. A-Rod has been the best player on the Yankee's in these past few years, and what he has done in that time has earned him his pinstripes. What he has had to deal with as a Yankee is a lot more than what any of his teammates have had to deal with. So again, YES he has EARNED his Pinstripes!

[TonyStarks]

Well, let's look at the Yankee's the last 4 years, since that's the time he has been with the team.

How do you think he compares to the other players he has played with in that time span?

He actually has played more games as a Yankee than any of the others in that 4 year span - did you know that? In fact, he has only missed 19 games over the last 4 years. So he is a workhorse who doesn't take time off. He goes out there day in day out. So 1 point for A-Rod.

And no one can say he hasn't been productive these 4 years. He quite possibly had the best season ever by a 3Bman last year (I have heard several members at this site say so). He has had more Runs, RBI, HR, SB, and BB's than any other Yankee player these 4 years. And he has had the highest OBP and Slg. on the team as well (not to mention an 18 point lead in OPS+ over the next player in that time).

I mean look at how he compares to the next person on the list in some categories.

Runs:
1) A-Rod - 492
2.) Jeter - 453
Edge: 39!

RBI:
1.) A-Rod - 513
2.) Matsui - 356
Edge: 156!!!!!

OPS+:
1.) A-Rod - 154
2.) Sheffield - 136
3.) Giambi - 134
4.) Matsui - 130
Edge: 18, 20 and 24 respectively!!!!!!

And not to mention that he has won 2 MVP's in this span - the first Yankee since Maris ('60 and '61) and Mantle ('56, '56, and '62) to win multiple MVP's) - that's a 40+ year spread!

Now I'm not a Yankee fan, so correct me if I'm wrong, but I would assume that Mattingly earned his pinstripes correct?

But wait!!! He didn't win a WS either did he? In fact, he only made it to the Post Season ONCE in his career didn't he!!!

So if Donnie doesn't get held accountable for that, then neither should A-Rod.

So I say yes he has. A-Rod has been the best player on the Yankee's in these past few years, and what he has done in that time has earned him his pinstripes. What he has had to deal with as a Yankee is a lot more than what any of his teammates have had to deal with. So again, YES he has EARNED his Pinstripes!

Great Post Man!!

ARod took this team to the Post Season this year and he's done more than his share.

[ShortStop]

Yet again he will only earn his pinstripes when he will have a fat ring in his finger. Till than he will be just another Don mattingly to me. Oh wait, that just did not sound right. lol

[Mattingly]

EdgarToHoF, you've left me speechless! :D

:bowdown: :hyper: :bowdown: :gt :bowdown: :applaud:

Anyway, Alex Rodriguez helped the Yanks make it to the playoffs more than once, so to me, he's long earned his stripes. If being the runaway MVP in a season where Maggs Ordonez puts up monster numbers doesn't mean he's earned his stripes, then I have nothing else to say to such a Yankee fan. Does he need to pitch, field, manage and report on the game to get the stripes?

Losing in the first round is embarrassing, but not making it to the playoffs is even far more embarrassing than that, especially for the Yanks. Let 'em keep hoping for a Yankee-free postseason, and let's hope that this doesn't happen anytime soon! :p

[MedicCook]

Being a Yankee is not always about the numbers. A-Rod has put up big numbers in Seattle and Texas also. I have never like A-Rod but I will root for him as long as he is a Yankee. Right now after 4 years he does not sit up there with the Great Yankees. We will see how the next 10 years go and maybe he will make it there.

[Mattingly]

Being a Yankee is not always about the numbers. A-Rod has put up big numbers in Seattle and Texas also. I have never like A-Rod but I will root for him as long as he is a Yankee. Right now after 4 years he does not sit up there with the Great Yankees. We will see how the next 10 years go and maybe he will make it there.
In that case, which players who've come in in the last 5-6 years have earned their pinstripes?

What would Alex Rodriguez have to do in order for you to say that he's earned his stripes?

[MedicCook]

In that case, which players who've come in in the last 5-6 years have earned their pinstripes?

What would Alex Rodriguez have to do in order for you to say that he's earned his stripes?

Players who have started their career with the Yankees in the last 5-6 years, none come to mind that I would put up there with the great Yankees.

[carta_411]

he might have began to earn them in '07, but after he opted out, then came crawling back because he realized no OTHER team would give him the $$$$!! so he is there earning his paycheck, not his pinstripes!!!

[MedicCook]

He is still no Jeter, O'Neill, Mattingly, Randolph, ect. When I think of recent Yankees greats that is who I think of. I really hope that over the next 10 years A-Rod shows something that is more than playing for the paycheck.

[MaraMoose]

Once A-Rod knows how to hit one down the line/into the gap or actually hit a three run shot in October, then we should talk